How To Tip: Preparing Your Home For The Spring Season

The pollen is in full force, which means it's time to do some small maintenance around your Ideal home to get it prepped for spring. Outdoor Walkabout: While some winters are harsher than others, the cold temperatures, freezes and ice can take its toll on your windows, doors, roofing and gutters. Get up and take a walk around the house to see if anything looks off. This is a great time to refresh or replace, clean and examine exterior of your home.

• Examine caulking and weather stripping around windows and doors - recaulk as needed
• Check downspouts for winter damage, clogs and leaks
• Check gutters for debris and the last remnants of winter
• Examine roofing for cracked, torn or missing shingles
• Lubricate all moving garage door parts with a silicone-based spray (not WD-40)

As the seasons transition, now is the time to schedule your annual HVAC system maintenance with your HVAC company. Doing an a/c check yearly with your HVAC company can save you thousands and ensure your system stays within warranty. This is also the time to check safety equipment.

• Change out all air filters every 3 months when the seasons change
• Change the batteries in your smoke detectors now so they don't go off in the middle of the night
• Check Carbon monoxide sensors
• Flush hot water tank
• Clean out the dryer vent cap

Often these systems are out of sight, out of mind. Adding them to a spring and fall inspection list will help maintain these valuable systems in your home.